Heating system



J. C- HOLMES HEATING SYSTEM June 13, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1948 gwuv/MM John CHalmes June 13, 1950 Filed June 25,- 1948 J. c. HOLME S HEATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. C. HOLMES June 13, 1950 mum SYSTEM Filed June 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 kmq John G Holmes Mam, $92M ,dz

flilarneys Patented June 13, 1950 STATE PATENT OFF [C E- HEATING SYSTEM john fiolimes, gigii'al Mountain,- 'iienn. Application 25, 1948; SerialNo: 35-,262

'1 Claims. (01. sis-a) The present invention relates to a heating vsystem. and more particularly to a system utilizing a circulating heating medium in which thetemperature of the heating medium is automatically regulated in accordance with the temperature desiredin the space or room being heated;

Itis common practice in heating systems to utilize a thermostat in the room or area to be heated for the purpose of control-ling the heat applied to the heating medium; Inthese prior conventional heating systems, inmost instances the heating medium starts to circulate as soon as the room thermostat calls for additional heat. Also, inthese prior systems it is conventional 7 practice for the room thermostat to initiate the heat means such as the. gas burner, electrical heater or the like tothe extent that-it is intermittently operated heat beinggiven up by the hot water and it is 1 necessary for the temperature" otthe water to be" lowered before the room thermostat will-again operate to initiate the heating means: Consequently there will be considerable lag in time" after the-heating-mean's'is again initiated'before' any substantial amount of" heatis delivered through the heating systemto the room: This time lag makes-it difiicult to maintain ems-femtemperature in the room Within close limits-:- Furthermore, itnecessitates'; in the case of elect trical heating means, a" heavy intermittent load;

to be applied to the power lines' which in certain" areas might be quite uiid'silabl. I

In accordance with the present invention 'th heating means is adapted'to supply a small increment of heat energy to the heating medium more or less in step with the temperature variations in the room or area beingheated. The heating means; comprises a plurality of units; the total capacity of which is that needed for the system. After.

the desired temperature is developed inthe'heat ing medium, the individual units come into'sequential operation inresponse to the temperature requirements in the roo'ml being heated:

In this way a much more even temperature is maintained.-

The heating medium is raised'to a predeterminedtemperature before it is circulated. through the radiatingsystem. The room thermostat controls the circulation of the heating medium and:

Another object-of the present invent-ionis the provision of a'- novel space heating system ofsimple construction; compact design; small operation and installation cost, capableof maintainingthe temperature of the" system and: the space to be heated in close correspondence with" a desired reference temperature without substantial varia-'-' tion therein.

Another object of the present invention is theprovision of a novel space heating system having fully automatic thermostatic temperature regu-" lation capable of-varying the heatv applied to=the system in small corrective increments in accor'd ance witlrcorrespondingly small variations in the temperature of the system from aselected reference temperature.

Another object ofthe presentinvention' is the I provision'of a" novel space heating system of the circulating water type operative to deliver Water to the portions of the systemadapted toradiate heat into thespaceto be'heated only when such selected constant Y level.

Other objects, advantages and-capabilities of thepresent'inventionwill become apparent from the following detail description; taken in con'- junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is'a: perspective view illustrating the" heating unit and a heat'radiating. coil system embodying thev present: invention;

Figure 2- is a top or plan view of'the electric" heating unit, shown partially in-section partially in e'levaticbn'i Figure 4 is averticai vievii of the right'hand' end of theh'eating u'n-it'"illustrated in Fig-uie 2 Figure-3 is'asid View, partially insection'an'df Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the portions of the heating unit associated with the thermostatic check valve controlling the flow of water through the heating system.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram for the pump motor and electric heating units in the boiler units.

The present invention difiers from the conventional heating system in that the invention utilizes a tank or reservoir for the heating system in which water or other desired heat exchange medium is raised to the desired temperature and is maintained at that temperature and is intermittently circulated to the radiating system in response to a thermostat in the room or areas to be heated. Broadly speaking, the invention comprises the tank or reservoir for the water or other heat exchange mediumj a multiple unit boiler in which each boiler unit has an individual heating unit which is controlled in accordance with individual thermostats located in the tank or reservoir; and a pump for circulating the heat exchange medium from the boiler to the radiating system. The heat exchange medium is raised to a predetermined temperature before it is circulated through the radiating system and the temperature of the water or heat exchange medium is maintained at a predetermined temperature sufficient for maintaining a predetermined temperature in the room to be heated. To this end, a recirculating feature is provided whereby the water is continuously circulated through the boiler units and the reservoir until a predetermined temperature is reached at which time the water or heat exchange medium is circulated from the boiler to the radiating system. The room thermostat simultaneously controls the circulation of the heating medium and the operation of one of the heating units. The operation of the other heating units is responsive to the temperature of the water returning from the radiating system and the number of heating units which come into operation will be in accordance with the temperature of the water or heat exchange medium necessary to raise the temperature in the room to a predetermined value which is determined by the setting or the room thermostat.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes, the boiler units are arranged in zig-zag stacked relation with one abovethe other with all of the boiler units connected in series so that the water or other heat exchange medium can flow through each unit. In the embodiment illustrated, each boiler unit is provided with an electrical heating unit. The heating unit in the lowermost boiler unit is connected in parallel with the electric motor which operates the pump for circulating the heat exchange medium. Operation of each of the electrical heating units of the other boiler units is controlled,v respectively, by one of the thermostats in the reservoir. Beginning with the thermostat which controls the second from the lowermost boiler unit, each thermostat is preferably set at a progressively higher temperature in the ascending order of'the arrangement of the boiler units. The thermostats in the reservoir are arranged so that the one with the lowest setting isv next to the inlet pipe of the reservoir and controls the heating unit in the next to the lowermost boiler unit. With this arrangement the one heater unit always operates when the room thermostat starts operation of the motor to circulate the heat exchange medium. As previously mentioned the water is not circulated from the boiler into the radiating system until the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature which opens a thermostat valve between the boiler and the radiating system. In the meantime the water is recirculated around and around through the boiler units. If the temperature of the water which is being recirulated is below the temperature at which the thermostat opens, all of the thermostats in the reservoir will close and will remain closed, thereby energizing all of the heating units (assuming that the room thermostat is closed) until the temperature has reached this predetermined point. After the thermostat valve opens the water will begin to circulate throughout the radiating system where heat is extracted from the water. The temperature of the water returning from the radiating system to the reservoir and thence into the boiler, will determine the number of heating units which will thereafter be energized. For instance, if the extraction of heat from the heat exchange medium as it flows through the radiating system is at a lesser rate than the rate at which heat is supplied by the heating unit in the lowermost boiler unit, all of the thermostats in the reservoir will remain open and as soon as the temperature in the room has reached the temperature at which the room thermostat is set, the pump motor and the heating unit in the lowermost boiler unit will be deenergized simultaneously. Thereafter, when the temperature in the room drops sumciently to close the room thermostat, operation of the unit in the lowermost boiler and the pump motor will be initiated. In the event the weather should become ,cooler so that the rate of extraction of the heat from the heat exchange medium as it passes through the radiating system increases, the temperature of the water returning through the boiler will be lowered so that the one heating unit cannot maintain the temperature of the water in the reservoir. In this event the water returning from the radiating system will reduce the temperature of the water in the reservoir so that the thermostat with the next higher setting will close and thereby energize the heating unit in the next boiler unit. If these two units are unable to maintain the necessary temperature of the water in the reservoir, the other thermostats will be successively closed to assist in heating the water. Similarly, if it is desired to raise the temperature in the room, the room thermostat can be set up so that the pump motor and the one heater unit are energized. The pump continues to circulate the water through the radiating system where it is cooled and will continue to do so until the temperature in the room is raised to that at which the thermostat is set. In the meantime, the appropriate number of additional heating units will be energized through their respective thermostats in order to raise the temperature of the water sufliciently for the purpose of increasing the temperature in the room as soon as possible. Then again, after the temperature in the room has been raised to correspond to the setting of the thermostat, the pump motor circuit will be deenergized. As will be apparent from the circuit diagram, all of the heaters will be deenerg'ized. Thereafter if the room thermostat again calls for additional heat, the pump motor and the one heating unit will be energized to supply heat to the radiating system. If the single unit is not sufiicient to maintain the temperature of the water being circulated through the heating system, additional heating units will automatically be energized by their thermostats to raise the water temperature and thisprocess will be repeated thereafter in accordance with temperature conditions and changes in the room thermostat setting. In accordance with the present invention, individual heating units are energized in response to the amount of heat required so that the full capacity of the heater is used only when needed, graduated corrective increments of heat being supplied in response to the small variations in heat requirement.

h The present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is shown as adapted particularly to a domestic heating system for homes. The system occupies somewhat less space than conventional home heating plants being thereby particularly adapted to use in small utility rooms The system comprises a heating unit It), including a boiler 35 which is made up of a plurality of separate boiler units, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35c, and 35f, a pump unit 3%], the system reservoir or tank 23; and a heat radiating system represented by the radiating coils l2, l3 through which water (or other heat exchange medium) is circulated from the boiler and back to the reservoir 20. The coils l2, i3 may themselves constitute a closed circuit radiating system or may serve as conduits to a system of radiators for the water being conveyed from the heating unit It) through the outlet pipe It to the coils l2, l3 and back to the heating unit it through the inlet pipe [5. The system described herein is particularly adapted to the so-called radiant heating systems in which the pipes such as those indicated at l2, [3 might be imbedded in monolithic slab sub-floors or walls of buildings or rooms.

One of the novel and salient features of the present invention is the provision of the reservoir 2E9, in which are the thermostatic controls for the heater units in the circulating system between the return from the radiating system and the return inlet to the boiler.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 to 5 inelusive, the heating unit ID is mounted on a base It and is provided with a housing cover I! which covers the component parts of the heating unit. Suitable adjustable supporting legs I8 in the form of threaded bolts having suitable heads which serve as feet are provided at the four corners of the base it. The base I6 can be leveled by the relative adjustment ofthe supporting legs.

Disposed on a horizontal axis longitudinally of the housing cover I7 and in the upper portion thereof is the reservoir or tank 20 serving as the reservoir for water or other heat exchange medium for the heating system. The inlet pipe l5 for the water returning to the heating unit H! from the radiating coils l2, I3 is coupled at the under-side of the left hand end of the reservoir 20 as shown in Figure 3.

Spaced laterally lengthwise of the reservoir 20 are a plurality of radially extending thermostats 2 lb, 2 le, 2 Id, Z'Ieand 2| Each of these thermostats is provided with threaded portions which are threaded through openings 22 in the bottom wall of the reservoir 20. Each of the thermostats is provided with adjustment screws 25 through which the temperature at which the thermostat opens its electrical contacts can be manually varied. These thermostats are all of the same conventional commercial construction but are preferably set at progressively higher temperatures with the thermostat element 21b nearest the return from the radiating system, being set toopen at the lowest temperature and each of the others being set to open at sequential, progressively higher temperatures. It is to be noted that the thermostatic element 2lb with the lowest setting is arranged adjacent the inlet pipe [5 so that it is closest to the part of the reservoir into which the water returns from the radiating system. Since the exact details of the thermostat do not constitute part of the present invention, it is not believed necessary to describe these elements in detail. As will be described later, each of the thermostats is adapted to control the energization of one of the individual electric heater units of the individual boiler units.

The opposite end of the tank 20 is provided with an outlet pipe 26 which connects the tank reservoir 20 to a circulatingpump 30 which is mounted on one end of the lower heating unit 35a, as shown in Figure 4 with the discharge end of the pump opening directly into this boiler unit. The opening from the pump into the boiler unit is indicated by the dotted line 3? in Figure l. The pump is operatedby the electric motor 32 by means of the V-belt and pulley system 3i.

The boiler units of the boiler 35, formed of cylindrical shells, are mounted on parallel axes and are spaced from each other vertically and laterally and are held in fixed relation by a pair of vertical supporting end brackets 3% 3B which are in turn supported by the base iii. Each of the boiler units is provided at its ends with flanged cover plates 38 which close the ends of the cylinders. Z'he end plates are secured in position by suitable cap screws. The alternate adjacent ends of the boiler units are connected together by inter-connecting pipes 38 in such a manner that the units are all connected in series to permit. the flow of water from the bottom unit up through. each of the other units to the outlet indicated at,

Each of the boiler units 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 356 and 35f are provided respectively with electrical heater units dila, lllb, illc, illd, we and 66 having respective terminals lla, 4h), die, lid, ile and MI. Referring specifically to Figure 7, the electric heater unit Gila: is connected in parallel with the motor 32 which operates the circulating pump 33. As has been mentioned previously, in a general way a room thermostat :0 simultaneously energizes the motor 32 and the electric heater unit 40a from a suitable power source 1!. The circuit for the thermostat '56 which circuit also includes the circuit breaker l2, may be energized from the power source through the step down transformer T3 in conventional manner. It will also be noted that the other electric heater units 4622, 46c, lild, 46c and AW are respectively in series with reservoir thermostat elements 2th, 2l'c, Zld, 2le and 25 the thermostats being adapted to control the energization of the associated electric heater units when the circuit to motor 32 is energized. In this connection it will be noted that one end of all of the electric heater units is connected to one side of the motor circuit and through the respective thermostats the other ends of the electric heater units are adapted to be connected to the opposite side of the motor circuit. Also, as has been mentioned in a general way, and as will be seen by reference to Figure 3, the reservoir thermostat H1) is arranged adjacent the inlet 55 to the reservoir through which the water returns to the reservoir from the heat radiating system. This area or part of the reservoir 20 immediately adjacent the inlet opening normally contains the coolest water. Each of the reservoir thermostats are preferably set auras to close at temperatures in a sequential progressively increasing series within a selected range of temperatures beginning with the thermostat element 2E2) which is set at the lowest temperature. Preferably there is a two degree variation between the setting of the adjacent thermostats for reasons which will be more specifically defined hereinafter. As an example, thethermo-- stat element 25b may be set for a cut of temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The outlet 65 of the upper boiler unit 35f through which the water passes from the boiler 35 into the outlet pipe i l to the heat radiating system represented by the coils l2 and 13, is controlled by a thermostatic outlet valve 45, shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 6, which is adapted to cause recirculation of the water through the boiler 35 and into the reservoir 29 until a. predetermined temperature has been reached at which time the thermostatic valve 45 opens to permit the heated water of the proper temperature to go into the heat radiating system. In general, the temperature at which this thermostatic valve operates is about 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Also this outlet 6! is provided with a suitable by-pass 68 which permits a small amount of water to be by-passed from the boiler into the reservoir when the outlet valve 45 is open to pipe It for the purpose of maintaining the desired temperature of the water in the reservoir 20. If desired, the by-pass 6t can be so connected to outlet 55 so that the water can recirculate to the reservoir at all times. The outlet comprises a suitable valve seat housing 4'! having a flange suitably secured to one end of the uppermost boiler unit 35 by means of suitable bolts '52, the housing having a suitable recess i8 formed therein and provided with an outlet channel $8 to which the outlet pipe i i may be connected any suitable manner. The recess 48 is in communication with the outlet channel 49 through a restricted aperture 513. A second bypass channel 5i is also provided in the housing A's, the by-pass channel 5! being suitably connected to the inlet or the pump 39 whereby the water may be re-circulated from the boiler through the pump and back into the boiler when the thermostatic valve 55 closes aperture 55 and opens apertures 5d. comprises a valve casing member 53 having an outwardly extending flange 53a which is held in fluid-tight engagement between the supporting plate 35 and the flange of the valve housing 41 as shown in Figure 6. The main body of the valve casing member 53 is fitted into the recess 48 in the housing ti, the valve casing member 53 being provided with a plurality of apertures Ed in the sides thereof to permit the passage. of the Water into the recess 28 and thence into the by-pass channels 5i and 69 when the apertures 54 are uncovered by the valve, per se.

Secured to the valve casing member 53 is a U-shaped mounting bracket 55 which supports a, thermostatic control bellows 56 of conventional construction Extending forwardly into aperture 5!! from the bellows 56 is a valve stem 51 having a valve disk 58 on the end thereof normally disposed in the aperture 50 and resting against the forward end of the valve casing member 53 in such a position as to close the aperture to the flow of water. A second valve disk member 59 in the form of a disk having a frustoconical flange 59a is fixed to the valve stem between the forward end of the bellows 56 and the valve disk 58. The web of the valve disk 59 is The thermostatic valve provided withsuitable apertures to facilitate th flow of water regardless of the position of the thermostatic valve 45. The valve disk member 59 is so positioned on the valve stem 51 that when the valve disk 58 is against the forward end of the valve casing member 53, the flange 59a of the valve disk member 59 will uncover the apertures 54. It will be apparent that when the valve member 59 closes the apertures 5%, the valve disk 58 will open the aperture 56 and water will pass from the upper heater unit 36 into the outlet channel 43. Also when the valve disk member 58 closes the aperture 5c, the apertures- 54 will be uncovered so that the water will passfrom the upper boiler unit 35 into the by-pass channels 5| and E6.

The characteristics of the bellows 55 is such that the latter will not open to permit water to pass into the channel 19 and thence into the outlet M until the water has reached the predetermined temperature which is sufiicient to cause the radiating system to operate eiiiciently. A temperature of about 130 degrees Fahrenheit has been found to be suitable. The by-pass 6!] as previously mentioned is connected with the recess 48 so that when the temperature of the water emerging from the boiler is such that the thermostatic valve 45 closes the aperture 55 and opens the apertures 5d so that the water will be recirculated through the pump 30 and into the boiler,

a small amount of water will be by-passed through the by-pass 6t into the reservoir 29 to gradually raise and maintain the temperature of the water therein. During the time when the water is below the temperature necessary for the thermostat valve 45 to open the aperture 553, all of the reservoir thermostats 2H2, 21c, 2511, He and 2i will be closed so that all of the electric heaters in the boiler will be energized. This will cause the temperature of the water to increase at the maximum rate and when the temperature of the water becomes high enough the thermostat valve 45 will expand, moving the valve disk 58 to the right, as viewed in Figure 6, opening the aperture 50 permitting water to flow into channel 39 at the same time the flange 59a of the valve disk 59 will close the apertures 5 and prevent the water from re-circulating through channel 5| back into the boiler. It will be readily apparent that the water will also be closed off from the by-pass 6! After the temperature of the Water rises sufficiently to open the aperture 55 and to close the apertures 54, if the pump 39 is operated the water will flow through the outlet pipe it into the heat radiating system represented by the coils I2, [3 and back into the tank or reservoir 29 through the return or inlet pipe l5.

As previously mentioned, the thermostatic element 2lb is preferably set at a out 01f temperature of degrees. The other thermostatic elements are set at 2 degree intervals so that the element 2 [0 will have a cut ofi temperature of 82 degrees, element 2 id will have a cut off temperature of 8% degrees, element 2le will have a cut off temperature of 86 degrees, and element 2| will have a out 01f temperature of 88 degrees. It has been found that the setting of the thermostatic elements at the approximately two degree intervals within the temperature range indicated 'is suitable for controlling the present system where it is desired to maintain a room temperature in the range from 68 degrees to about 76 degrees. It will be noted from the previous description that the electric heater element 40a in the lowermost boiler unit 35a is directly across the circuit of the electric motor 32 which operates the pump 30 and therefore as soon as the=house thermostat lll closes contacts in response to a lower temperature in'the room, the pump will begin'to circulate the water through the boiler. If the temperature of the water leaving the uppermost boiler unit 35a is not sufficiently high, usuallv about 130 degrees, the water will be re-circulated through the boiler at the same time that a small amount of Water is by-passed into the reservoir. Since the thermostatic elements are all set in progressively higher temperatures, all of the circuits and thermostats will he closed when the temperature is below the lowest-setting of the thermostat. This will cause the "temperature in the reservoir 20 to rise at the maximum rate. As soon as the temperature passes the cut off temperature of the respective thermostats, each one will cut off the circuit and will deenergize its respective associated electric heater unit in the respective boiler units so that an excessive temperature will not be reached. As soon as the thermostatic valve 45 opens so that the water begins to circulate through the radiating system, the temperature in the room will gradually rise so that the house thermostat Ill will open its contacts and deenergize the input circuit to the heating unit, stopping the circulation of the water and tie-energizing the heaters.

The detail overall operation oi the heating system is substantially as follows:

Upo initial energization of'the electrical sys tem by the house thermostat Ill, water in the tank 28 is drawn through the pump 30 and forced the minimum temperature required for effective operation of the heating system, the bellows 56 of the valve d will not have been expanded sufficiently to project the valve stem 5! and disk 58 beyond the aperture 56 to permit water to flow therethrough to the channel 49 and outlet pipe l4. Likewise apertures 54 in the valve casing member 53 will be uncovered so that water will be by-passed into the valve seat recess 38 and thence hack into the pump Bil through the channel 5i and into the tank 2i! through the by-pass channel 55. the water thus repeating the portion of the cycle thus far described.

When the temperature of the water is raised sufficient y to expand the bellows 56 to open the aperture '59 to flow of water, the apertures 54 will he closed by the valve disk member 59, and all'the water will be circulated by the pump 3!] through the outlet pipe 14, coils l2, l3, and back into the tank 253 t rough return or inlet pipe !5. As the temperat the water is further raised into the range of temperatures to which the electric thermostat elements are adjusted, the electric heater units will successively d e-energized. Thus, as the temperature of the water reaches the highest temperature setting of these thermostat elements all of the heater elements will be tie-energized and thereafter the cycle of control will be repeated.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that by the present invention a novel heating "system is'provided'in which .there is 'a system reservoir provided between the return from the heat radiating system and the boiler, the reservoir being provided with a plurality of electric thermostat units which are adapted to control independently individual heating units in the boiler. In addition to the heater units which are controlled in the thermostat system reservoir, there is a single heater unit which is in parallel with the motor circuit which is sufiicient to maintain the heating system for minimum desired temperatures. In accordance with this system the water returning from the heat radiating system controls the energization of additional heat generating units such as the electric heater units to supply additional heating capacity. In this way a more uniform temperature control is provided and additional heating capacity is added to the system in accordance'with the demands of the system. Although the system is described as utilizing electrical heater units. it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any other type of conventional heating unit such as heating unit which may be operated by gas or oil for example, may be utilized.

While but one particular embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A heating system. comprising. a reservoir containing fluid medium for conducting heat through the system, a plurality of temperature sensitive means disposed in 1 reservoir each adjusted to be actuated at slightly spaced ten peratures progressively within a selected t h perature range, a plurality of boiler units intercoupled to form a series'fluid circulating system each having heat generating means therein ecupled with a'distinct one of said temperature sen sitive means operative to be energized through actuation of said temperature sensitive means, circulating means coupled into said ope ative to circulate said fluid medium througl system, and closed path fluid medium conducting means coupled between the last in the series of said boiler units and said reservoir and extendingthrough the space to be heated to radiate the heat in'said fluid medium into said space.

2. A heat system comprising a reservoir adapted to receive a reserve supply of heat exchange medium, a plurality of temperature responsive elements disposed in said reservoir and each adjusted to sequentially and progressively increasing cut off temperatures, boiler means having a plurality of heat generating units therein, at least some of which are adapted to be energized independently each by one of said temperature responsive means, circulating means coupled into said system operative to circulate said heat exchange medium therethrough, a closed path heat radiating system coupled between said boiler means and said reservoir and adapted to be placed in a space or area to be heated, by pass fluid conductor means coupled between the juncture of said lboiler means with said closed path radiating system and a point in said system ahead of the entrance into said boiler means, and temperature responsive valve means disposed at said juncture normally closing said closed path radiating system to introduction of said medium therein and opening said by-pass means to recirculation of said medium through said reservoir and said boiler means, said valve means being operative in response to a preselected temperature of said heat exchange medium to open said closed path system to admission of said medium therein and close said by-pass system to recirculation of said medium therethrough.

3. In a heating system the combination recited in claim 2 and a second by-pass fluid conductor forming a constricted conduit between the outlet side of said boiler and said reservoir for continuously recirculating a portion of said medium from said boiler means to said reservoir to facilitate the heating of the heat exchange medium in said reservoir.

4. A heating system comprising, a reservoir adapted to contain a heat exchange medium for conducting heat through the system, a plurality of temperature sensitive means disposed in said reservoir adjusted to sense slightly spaced temperatures in a progressive series within a selected range of temperatures and to close an electrical circuit therethrough when the temperature is below the temperature adjustment, a plurality of boiler units coupled in series each having heat generating means therein electrically energized through the electrical circuit through one of said temperature sensitive means, circulating means coupled between said reservoir and said boiler units operative to circulate the fluid medium through said system, and closed path fluid conductor heat radiation means coupled between the last in said series of boiler units and said reservoir and extending through the space to be heated.

5. A heating system comprising, a reservoir adapted to contain a heat exchange medium, a plurality of thermostat means disposed in said reservoir adjusted to be actuated at slightly different temperatures in a progressive series within a selected range of temperatures to close an electrical circuit therethrough when the temperature is below the temperature adjustment, a plurality of boiler units coupled in series, each having heat generating means therein electrically energized through the electrical circuit associated with one of said thermostat means, circulating means coupled between said reservoir and the first in said series of boilef units operative to circulate the heat exchange medium through said system, and closed path fluid conductor heat radiating means coupled between the last in said series of boiler units and said reservoir and extending through the space to be heated.

6. A heating system comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a heat exchange medium, a

plurality of thermostat means disposed in said 6 reservoir adjusted to be actuated at slightly different temperatures in a progressive series within a selected range of temperatures to close an electrical circuit therethrough when the temperature is below the temperature adjustment, a plurality of boiler units coupled in series, each having heat generating means therein electrically energized individually through the electric circuit associated with one of said thermostat means, circulating means coupled between said reservoir and the first in said series of boiler units operative to circulate the heat exchange medium through said system, and closed path fluid conductor heat radiating means coupled between the lastrin said series of boiler units and said reservoir and adapted to be located in the space to be heated, fluid by-pass conductor means coupled floetween the juncture of said boiler with said closed path fluid conductor heat radiating means and a point in said system ahead of the entrance to said boiler, and temperature responsive valve means operative to control the flow of the heat exchange medium through said closed path heat radiating means and the flow of said heat exchange medium through said by-pass conductor means when the temperature of said heat exchange medium is below a preselected level.

7. A heating system comprising aa boiler, a heat radiating system, a reservoir, circulating means connected for circulation of a heat exchange medium from one to the other of the above elements in the order named, a plurality of individual heater units in said boiler, a plurality of individual temperature responsive means in said reservoir for controlling the operation of said individual heater units, whereby said heater means are selectively controlled by the temperature of the water returning from said radiating system, by-pass means between the juncture between said boiler and said radiating system for by-passing a small quantity of the heat exchange medium into said reservoir and temperature responsive means disposed at said juncture normally closing said closed path radiating system to introduction of said medium therein and opening said by-pass means to recirculation of said medium through said reservoir and said boiler means, said valve means being operative in response to a, preselected temperature of said heat exchange medium to open said closed path system to admission of said medium therein and close said by-pass system to recirculation of said medium therethrough.

JOHN C. HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

